RF Circuit and Systems Design

9-13 July 2018

Course overview

The course has been specifically designed to cover the major elements relevant to engineers working or starting out in the Radio Frequency field and should provide them with the expertise required to excel in this, their chosen field.

By joining some of the foremost experts in the field of RF engineering delegates will quickly be given the tools to get to grips with the major aspects of RF Circuit & System Design.

Who is this course for?

This course is intended for delegates wishing to consolidate and upgrade their RF knowledge to improve their effectiveness in implementing and using RF systems in the radio industry.

Delegates will obtain an understanding of the technologies behind transmitter and receiver design including small signal RF amplifiers, synthesisers and PA design. The format of the course is such that even those with only a rudimentary understanding of the topic will quickly be brought up to speed.

The course material progresses to an advanced level equivalent to that required to an MSc module. This course can also form part of the Modular MSc in Electronic Engineering. Please contact the CE office for further details. Numbers on this course are limited in order to give ample time to students in the CAD sessions and practical laboratories while also gaining the necessary support from tutors.

The course is usually very popular so early booking is advised.

Course syllabus

Please note that this syllabus can be changed at the University of Surrey's discretion.

RF Transmission Lines – Dr Charles Free

An introduction to the properties and characteristics of transmission lines for use at RF will be given. Included in the presentation will be an introduction to the Smith Chart, and its uses in RF circuit design.

Planar Circuit Design – Dr Charles Free

The presentation will focus on microstrip, and the application of this technology for the design of RF circuits. The theory and design of some common matching circuits will be included, and the treatment extended to consider the design of planar lumped components.

Experimentation with the Smith chart and lumped elements using computer aided design software.

Transistor Circuits and Automatic Gain Control – Dr Tim Brown

Understanding bipolar junction transistors and field effect transistors and their usage in RF circuits. The long tail pair. Use of long tail pair in an automatic gain control. Applications of automatic gain control.

The essential theory pertaining to RF filters will be reviewed. The presentation will include the practical design of planar filters using microstrip technology, and the work extended to consider the application of recent multilayer planar techniques for RF and microwave filter design.

Tutorial/Lab Visit – Dr Charles Free and Dr Tim Brown

This session will be a continuation from the previous lectures covering useful tutorial problems. A laboratory visit will be conducted in the second half to the RF labs used in Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre.

This lecture introduces the key active and passive components for GaAs and Silicon IC design. The most common circuit topologies are introduced for amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, switches, variable attenuators and phase shifters. Finally, recent

developments in millimetre-wave silicon designs are introduced.

Transceivers and Handsets – Prof Ian Robertson

This lecture considers the different architectures used for modern transmitters and receivers in mobile handsets. A number of practical solutions and chipsets are studied and some of the key off-chip RF components are considered - filters, the PA and switches (including MEMS).

Prices

Price per person, including lunch, refreshments and printed course notes:

£1750 - Early bird rate for registration received by 9 June 2018

For IET Members (proof of membership needed)

£1650 - Early bird rate for payment received by 9 June 2018

For Registrations received after 9 June 2018

£1850

How to apply

To book, go to our online store. Payment can be accepted by credit card.

This course is very popular so early registration is advisable.

Please note that we do not charge VAT as we are an educational establishment. This makes the price of this course very competitive!

Provisional timetable

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

9:00-10:30

1. RF Transmission Lines

6. Transistor Circuits and Automatic Gain Control

11. Software Radio Basics and Demo

16. RF Antennas and Propagation

21. RF Amplifier Design

Dr Charles Free

Dr Tim Brown

Professor Mike Underhill

Dr Tim Brown

Prof. Ian Robertson

10:30-11:00

11:00-12:30

2.Planar circuit design

7. Receivers and Mixers I

12. Oscillators and Frequency Synthesisers

17. RF Power Amplifiers

22. RFICS and MMICS

Dr Charles Free

Prof. Mike Underhill

Professor Mike Underhill

Dr Peter King

Prof. Ian Robertson

12:30-13:30

13:30-15:00

3. The Smith Chart and lumped element circuit matching

8. Receivers and Mixers II

13. Lab Groups *

18. Power Amplifier Linearisation

23. Transceivers and Handsets

Dr Tim Brown

Prof. Mike Underhill

Dr Peter King

Prof. Ian Robertson

15:00-15:30

15:30-17:30

4.CAD Laboratory: Smith Chart and Matching

9. CAD Low Noise Amplifier Design Laboratory

14. Lab Groups *

19. RF Filters

END

Dr Tim Brown

Dr Tim Brown

Dr Charles Free

17:30-18:45 approx.

5. CAD Laboratory: Smith Chart and Matching (Contd.)

10. CAD Low Noise Amplifier Design Laboratory (cont)

15. Lab Groups/MSc Tutorial *

10. Tutorial/Lab Visit

Dr Tim Brown

Dr Tim Brown

19:30 Course Dinner at the Rum Wong

Terms and conditions

Cancellations notified in writing ten working days before the event; we charge a cancellation fee of 35% of the standard rate. If we have already received payment we refund 65% of the full fee.

Cancellations within 10 working days before the event; We charge these at the full rate and do not give refunds.

If no written notice of cancellation is received, no refund can be made. The University of Surrey reserves the right to cancel any event. In this case, the full fee will be refunded unless a mutually convenient transfer can be arranged. Details of event changes or cancellations are available by phoning +44 (0)1483 686040

Delegates can make a provisional registration for a course by telephone or email. However bookings are only acknowledged formally once payment has been received

Substitutions, from the same company, may be made following consultation with the Continuing Education Manager

The University reserves the right to cancel any course on the grounds of insufficient numbers or for other reasons beyond our control. In this case the full fee will be refunded unless a mutually convenient transfer can be arranged